Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-19
JAMES s. HOGG.
The Attorney General Is Opposed To
aud Will Vote Against the Pro
posed Amendment.
BE Gays the Intemperence of Bad Men Is
not to be abated by Prohibition or
ANY Species of Coercion.
Arsr1N. Ten. MAY l3, 1881.

say that 1t is true that L am opposed [
the adoption of the proposed amendmen
to our constitution on the subject of pro
hlbition. In. this respect l differ, c
course, with many of my friends. If 20
were to ask meif am opposed to ten
perance and sobrietY, then l shoul'
cheerfully tell you no, and that / We
practice what preach in this respect.
Aside from the great fundamental prin
Ciples involved, which touch the yer.
heart of freeman'S government, should
oppose the proposed measure on TIT
grounds Of lis utter prscticability anC
of the prolific evils that would certainly
aow from its Adoption. The objects O
its advocates are Cotnmendable. in so ia
as they intend to sbste intemperance anC
to reform the morals of the wicked PEG
pie. Such results are not possible, how
evtT, from prohibition or any species o.
coercion Morality, sebriety and re-
Iigion spring from g different source than
brute force or the lash Of the law. Mer
cannot be made mora, forced into temper
Rnce or whipped into religion. Inc way
to happiness and to heaven is pointed out
By our Savior, whose great influence has
been most felt from MS humility, meek
ness, kindness, forbearance, precept and
example His course was approved and
sanctioned by the wisdom of Cos, and he
never sought to purify the people by
prohibitOry measures in the corrupt times
when his presence became necessary on
earth.
Bv the powers of "moral sGsslen' 81
the church, and around the family hearth
stone, and in the sChOol-room, followed
up by worthy examples by those who
lead the way in society and business,
especially of those who assume the role
of moral reformers, temperance ana
sobrety will prevail; for by these
methods mems pride and honor can be
cultivated and aroused to the elevated
standard of honesty aud truth In all
things. -
In revolt at dictation and coercion, in
private affairs, men become combative
when there is hope in open reslstancei
but so soon Is this feeling is gone they
sneak, next, into the hiding places OF
towards, criminals and outlaws, to evade.
what they conceive and contend to be
oppression. In such refugees tricks are
Conjured, and deception and hypocrisy
are prscdced and perjury is bred, nur-
tured and emulated.
prohibit the Importation Of liquors, but
it does intend to prevent the sale OF them
except for medicinal, scientific, mechan-
icaI and sacramento purposes. There
fore, ANYBODY can get the liquid who may
order 1t by the pint, quart, gallon, keg,
barrel or cargo, which he can give away
or drink at will. So anyone can sell 1t,
or buy il, for use in sickness"
- l.
cations in "meehanicaln pursuits, etc,
and 1t is possiOle-barely possible, that Il
the amendment is carried the saloons will
close up, and, as an eXpedient, if close
lV pressed, be transferred into drug
stores: or with only keep liquors for
''sick peopie,n scientific gentlemen"
and those engaged in the mechanics"
Add TO this the fact that Contemplating"
merchants, of the ''immOral class" Just
to ACCOMMODATE their customers" (and
to draw large crowds) VIII keep barrel
or so of red eye near bucket of water
and q sugar key in their back rooms, as
used TO besthe custom, and that this will
cause the Hmoral class" TO keep little
of the pure quality" in "self-detense"
to give their patrons, and one can begin
to see where this thing will go.
To get whisky men will lie, If neCes-
ssry, on constitutional grounds; for most
any thirsty fellow can easily complain OF
general debility" and get a bottle, or
ne can keep on hand some scien-
tific or mechanical scheme which can
not be operated without "spirits." Join
with all this the ingenuity Of the drinkeT,
the skill of the saloonist, the generosity
OF the merchant and the schemes of the
high-toned club-room, and the fallacY of
prohibition" can be seen before the
blunder is committed by the adoption of
the amendment.
If the war is really on the evil influence
of the saloons, as some avow, then it can
be made more successfully in the Legisla-
ture than by the present method. Re-
move the screens, so that ell drinkers can
be seen; abolish the vulgar pictures,
which arouse the evil passions; drive out
the enchanting music which draws
the crowds, and clear away
the gaming tables that al
ford sport, recreation and amusement
for the patrons. A step further on this
line: II necessary close them up st night,
or not permit lights to be used in the sa
looms from shutdown until sunup, so that
he who goes there after night will do SO
alone fer drink, and must grope in the
darkness to Stake his thirst. Supplement
this by heavy bonds snd high license,
exclude the sale of liquor from every
other place, and there will be some
chance, at Iesst, of combining great evil
under the surveillance of the law, where
1t csn be made to defray large share OF
the tax, SIS it does now, and to carry all
the odium which the rules of society and
the Temperance people can place upon it.
This course will insure, first, the con-
finement of the liquor traffic within pre-
scribed channels, altogether unattractive
except TO the man who desires and will
have a stimulant. Second, the certain
and easv enforcement of the law against
the dealer; for every watchful man who
passes the saloon can be q witness against
them in it's violations. Third, the pay
ment of lsrge shsrge of the taxes of the
government, upon the sound economic
principle that evil pursuits should bear
the heaviest burdens. Fourth, the draw
ing of lines certainly and clearly between
moral ana immoral pursuits, practices
and habits, so that no man can pIeTf the
hypocrite without just exposure. ~
The present seductive surroundingEtf'
saloons are against public pollcy.sa d
they will De abated by proper enfoTce !
ment of the lsw passed by the last L&gis- |
lature The well known Necessary OIL